The National Park Service (NPS) has announced a plan to destroy an acre of land at Crookes Point and replace it with 1,000 trees as part of the city’s Million Trees Project.

Though the area does contain invasive species, this plan is greatly flawed. The NPS has announced they will clear the land using herbicides and bulldozers.

However, this land is home to native plants like the bayberry and sumac, plants that will probably also fall victim to the herbicide sprays.

The area is also used by flocks of migrating birds and monarch butterflies. In an attempt to protect the native plants from invasive species, the NPS will actually be destroying the biodiversity of the area. The great diversity of plant life will be diminished and replaced with a tree farm.

I urge the NPS to rethink this plan. Do not ruin the natural beauty of Crookes Point.